See some books at the Aurora Central Library's Cinema in the Stacks

It's one of those eternal questions: Which was better, the movie or the book? You may find the answer tonight, when Cinema in the Stacks, a monthly literary film series hosted by the Aurora Central Library, kicks off for the summer. For the most part, perhaps because the library is a family kind of place, the films are family-friendly fare, but MirrorMask, which screens at 6 p.m., might be the most adventurous choice.

The brainchild of fantasy/comic book author Neil Gaiman and made in cahoots with the Jim Henson Company, MirrorMask explores the fantabulous inner life of a teen girl who wants not so much to run away with the circus, but to run away from it. Like many Gaiman tales, it's dark and sweet and a little bit scary. Maybe -- at times -- a lot.

Continuing every second Wednesday through September, the series will also screen Rescue Dawn (based on Dieter Dengler's war memoir, and a 2012 Aurora Power of One Book choice), Pride & Prejudice, Charlotte's Web and A River Runs Through It. The setting is casual and the price is right: free; for more information visit the Aurora Library online or call 303-739-7473.

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Susan Froyd is a Denver native who studied English, Art and finally Journalism at Metro State University, and also managed movie theaters and sold art supplies before landing at Westword in 1992. Decades later, she still feels privileged to serve the vibrant artists in all disciplines who make our town a more engaging place to live.